The Quote Sandwich The ability to incorporate quotes into your own text is an essential skill that can take your writing to the next level. Whether you are doing research writing, answering a DBQ, writing about literature, or crafting a story for your school newspaper, using quotes effectively will lend credibility to your writing and when done properly, provide a sound basis for your opinions. Here is one strategy for weaving other peoples words into your own writing. It helps to think of each quote as a sandwich that looks like this:
Context
Quote
Explanation
Begin by offering context for the quote; this might include who said it, when, what’s being discussed. Isabel Allende tried to hand on her own love of books to her children. Insert the quote, making sure that it’s properly punctuated. She’s disappointed that her son never reads any fiction. “I’ve tried to imagine,” she says, “how his mind and heart work, without nourishment from books. I can’t” (Allende 114). Then explain your reaction to the quote—offer some comment, analysis, or insight about it. Books, especially great fiction, have helped Allende find words for her own feelings. She implies, here, that they also help us to understand the feelings of others. Books create empathy. Conveniently, the quote sandwich makes a nice paragraph. Try it! - Courtesy of Susan Griffin, UCLA Writing Programs
The ability to incorporate quotes into your own text is an essential skill that can take your writing to the next level. Whether you are doing research writing, answering a DBQ, writing about literature, or crafting a story for your school newspaper, using quotes effectively will lend credibility to your writing and when done properly, provide a sound basis for your opinions. Here is one strategy for weaving other peoples words into your own writing.
It helps to think of each quote as a sandwich that looks like this:
Begin by offering context for the quote; this might include who said it, when, what’s being discussed.
Isabel Allende tried to hand on her own love of books to her children.
Insert the quote, making sure that it’s properly punctuated.
She’s disappointed that her son never reads any fiction. “I’ve tried to imagine,” she says, “how his mind and heart work, without nourishment from books. I can’t” (Allende 114).
Then explain your reaction to the quote—offer some comment, analysis, or insight about it.
Books, especially great fiction, have helped Allende find words for her own feelings. She implies, here, that they also help us to understand the feelings of others. Books create empathy.
Conveniently, the quote sandwich makes a nice paragraph. Try it!
- Courtesy of Susan Griffin, UCLA Writing Programs